EFFECTS OF HIGH-INTENSITY TRAINING WITH ONE VERSUS THREE CHANGES OF DIRECTION ON YOUTH FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYERS’ PERFORMANCE

To compare the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIT) with one versus three changes of direction (COD) on young (age, 17.2 +/- 1.1 years) female basketball players' performance, six weeks of regular basketball training (control period) was followed by six weeks of high-intensity training added to regular training, two times per week, with a random allocation of athletes to either HIT with one (HIT-COD1; n=6) or three COD (HIT-COD3; n=6). Before and after the control and HIT-COD training periods athletes performed repeated-sprint ability test (RSA), modified agility T-test (MAT), V-cut, triple standing dominant (TS-D) and non-dominant (TS-ND) jump, TS-D and TS-ND with COD tests, and 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15(IFT)). With the exception of a substantial improvement in V-cut in both groups, no substantial changes occurred during the control period. Both HIT-COD training programs improved V-cut, although only HIT-COD3 substantially improved RSA mean time (RSA(m)), MAT and the final speed reached in 30-15(IFT) (V-IFT). The between-group comparison revealed greater improvements in RSA(m) and V-IFT in HIT-COD3 than in HIT-COD1. In conclusion, supplementation of basketball training with HIT-COD drills adds improvements to young female basketball player's performance, especially when 3 COD are incorporated into HIT.